Knoxville, August 31, 2009 – Each week, three of New York City’s best bartenders are out to kick some ice as they take shots at each other in a showdown of skills, smarts, and spirits. Welcome to “Bartender Wars,” Fine Living Network’s newest competition series and TV’s only drinking game. Hosted by TV and radio personality Egypt Sherrod, the 13-episode series premieres on Friday, October 2 at 10:30PM ET/11:30 PM PT. Each half-hour episode of “Bartender Wars” features three bartenders as they Face Off in a series of challenges. No swizzle sticks. No Shirley Temples. It’s “Happy Hour” with a heavy dose of competition.

“Bartender Wars” features some of the finest – and hottest – bartenders in New York City who “mix it up” every day at some of the most popular spots including Stone Rose, Socialista, Buddakan, The Peninsula and W Hotels. Host Egypt Sherrod rallies these contestants as they challenge each other from seeing who can get the biggest tips to the most phone numbers to creating the most unusual – and delicious – cocktails. Each episode will feature a particular liquor ranging from tequila to champagne, and the contestants will have to engage in five challenges: the “Quick Shot,” based on speed; “Happy Hour” which involves patrons in the festivities; a technical challenge; the “Liquor Picker” where the bartenders have to throw darts to select the ingredients they’ll use for their signature drinks; “The Wheel of Challenges” where the guest judge will challenge the bartenders in games such as “Mimic the Master,” “Celeb in a Glass” and “Not Quite Seven Deadly Sins”; and finally the “Lightning Round” which gets patrons involved in a physical challenge. A special guest judge will join Egypt on the judging panel in each episode including some of the world’s most notable bartenders and mixologists including Erica Lancelloti, Dale DeGroff, Eben Freeman and Charlotte Voisey.

Host Egypt Sherrod will be recognizable to viewers from her career in radio and television. She is best known as the former co-host of the Power 105.1 Morning Show in New York and has also reported for programs such as Access Hollywood and BET’s The Black Carpet.

Thirsty for more? Starting this Fall, viewers and aspiring bartenders can log onto the “Bartender Wars” show page at www.fineliving.com/bartenderwars where they can find cocktail recipes featured on the show; learn more about the bartenders, guest judges, and show host, Egypt; watch original videos from the top contenders; upload their own cocktail photos and videos; and vote for their favorite bartender after each episode and for the overall winner. Full episodes will also be available on the site the day after a new episode airs.

Fine Living Network (FLN), available in over 55 million subscriber homes, is TV's fun, lifestyle network. Dedicated to providing topical, engaging and fast-paced entertainment you can use, FLN's content leaves viewers feeling smarter and more empowered. FLN's fresh line-up of programming runs the gamut from relationship, wedding, cocktail and competition shows to fashion, fitness and entertaining. Addictive and informative, sophisticated and irreverent, FLN comes to viewers from the makers of HGTV and Food Network and is available nationwide on DirecTV channel 232 and DISH Network channel 113, and on local digital cable. For a cable provider near you and to sample FLN programming, visit: www.fineliving.com/tv